Sweet Success: A Young Ethiopian Entrepreneur Turns Beekeeping into Opportunity
In Ethiopia, where bees are busy but business opportunities for young people are harder to come by, Amanuel is proving that a sweet idea — paired with the right support — can turn into something golden.
Like many young people, Amanuel, 28, set out to build a future by starting a business, but quickly ran into familiar barriers: limited financing, little training, and few market connections.
Self-employment accounts for over 41% of urban youth employment and nearly 88% in rural areas, according to the National Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy of Ethiopia. But these high figures mask a tougher reality: most young entrepreneurs are stuck in informal, survival-level work. There are few structured pathways to help them build sustainable, growth-oriented businesses.
Drawing on childhood memories and technical know-how, Amanuel set out to prove there’s money in honey — building an enterprise that now supports both himself and small-scale producers in his community.
Growing up, Amanuel shared a special bond with his father through backyard farming. Together, they grew vegetables and raised chickens, experiences that shaped his worldview.
Although he went on to study electrical and computer engineering at university, Amanuel never lost his passion for agriculture. After graduation, he shifted focus to honey production, an area he believed held great potential for Ethiopia.
“What’s interesting is how my engineering background perfectly complements this work,” he explains. “Engineering taught me how to solve complex problems, which is exactly what we’re doing in sustainable agriculture and food systems.”
Building Ayat Honey
When launching Ayat Honey Agro-products, Amanuel began small, establishing his first beehives inside the Gulele Botanic Center, a biodiversity-rich area ideal for honey production.
As demand for his product grew, so did his ambition. Recognizing that he could not meet growing demand alone, Amanuel formed partnerships with regional beekeepers — and soon, his business was buzzing.
These collaborations strengthened Ayat Honey’s supply chain and created new income opportunities for small-scale producers, amplifying the impact of his business beyond just profit. Still, scaling the business came with challenges. Managing growth, planning for sustainability, and reaching wider markets required skills that went beyond technical know-how.
Scaling Up: Support from the STEP Project
To strengthen his business capacity, Amanuel joined the Sustainable Training for Employment Promotion (STEP) project implemented by SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia. Through the project, he participated in practical training covering business development, financial management, marketing, and operational planning.
The support proved instrumental in helping Amanuel take Ayat Honey to the next level. His perspective shifted from day-to-day survival to a long-term growth strategy.
Earlier this year, Amanuel entered a business competition organized by the STEP project and won first place, receiving a grant of essential equipment valued at 150,000 Ethiopian birr (approx. €2,450), including refrigerators, honey containers, and packaging materials. With these tools, he was able to introduce Birz Honey Drink, a product that quickly gained popularity and boosted sales by 20%.
Looking ahead: a voice for Ethiopia’s potential
Today, Ayat Honey is not only a growing business, it is a story of what is possible when young people are given the space, skills, and encouragement to lead.
“I’m incredibly optimistic about Ethiopia’s great potential,” Amanuel says. “We’re Africa’s top honey producer and tenth in the world. I believe we can take our natural products global.”
“Young entrepreneurs like Amanuel need three things to thrive; practical skills and mentorship, access to finance, and strong market linkages,” says Anketse Birhanu, Youth Project Coordinator at SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia. “Through a holistic approach, programmes like STEP are equipping young people with technical and entrepreneurial skills, tailored business support, and real pathways to employment and self-employment.
“Supporting youth self-employment is not just about individual success, it’s essential for building a resilient and prosperous Ethiopia,” he says.
Amanuel’s experience reflects the mission of the STEP project, which over three years aims to support 3,500 youth in Addis Ababa and Adama through vocational training, entrepreneurship, and business coaching, equipping young people to become agents of economic and social change.
To meaningfully reduce youth unemployment, government policies must create an enabling environment for self-employment: one that identifies entrepreneurial potential, builds business skills, and supports opportunity-driven enterprise development. By nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset, more young people can build their own livelihoods — and contribute to stronger, more resilient communities.
© SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia